Volunteer with us

Volunteer with Praxis to be at the heart of our work for vulnerable people. We're always looking for enthusiastic and motivated volunteers to join the Praxis team!

To apply for any of the roles below, download an application form here, fill it in, and send to admin@praxis.org.uk.

Groupwork volunteers - WINGS (Women Inspiring New Generations) group

Praxis runs a weekly support and activity group for migrant mums and their babies. The group, which meets every Tuesday, gives children the opportunity to play, and supports their mums through the hardships they face- irregular immigration status, ‘no recourse to public funds’ condition, poor housing, poverty, destitution. We provide a crèche every other week, which gives the women a break from childcare and a chance to relax as well as talk openly about the struggles they face. The group helps families find a route out of destitution and towards a more stable and positive future. Activities include:

- Expressive arts (song, dance, movement)

- Relaxation and meditation

- Creative activities (creative writing, arts and crafts)

- Information sessions

- Occasional public speaking and awareness-raising activities

Groupwork volunteers will give their time to help run the project and support some of society’s most vulnerable families to lead happier, healthier lives. This will involve designing, developing and running sessions alongside the group facilitator, provide emotional support to group members, carry out admin duties including registering new members and referrals where needed.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for individuals who are committed and reliable, and are able to engage empathetically and without judgement with vulnerable people. You do not need to have specific professional experience in this area - Praxis will provide training and continual support throughout your time volunteering with us. We are looking for someone who can commit to regular volunteering one day per week on Tuesdays.

Street Legal community engagement volunteers

We need creative, committed volunteers to help us develop a vital new community engagement project. Street Legal is a partnership between Praxis, St Mungo’s and Refugee Action which works to prevent rough sleeping among non-EU migrants in London.

You will help to develop and deliver a programme of innovative workshops and information sessions that will empower at-risk communities to prevent – or survive – destitution and homelessness. You will work directly with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to promote access to good-quality immigration legal advice and knowledge of rights and entitlements around healthcare, benefits and housing. You will also support migrants with experience of destitution to make their voice heard to commissioners and service providers.

You will help develop training and support for Street Legal’s community champions – volunteers using their lived experience of homelessness and destitution to empower others. Previous experience of group facilitation is desirable. Knowledge of, or strong interest in, issues around homelessness and migrants’ rights is essential. A minimum commitment of one day a week is needed for this role.

Health and wellbeing volunteers

Be part of our exciting new health and wellbeing programme for migrants and refugees. You will help to plan and facilitate workshops and activities, gaining experience working directly with vulnerable clients. Our wellbeing activities include yoga classes, walking groups, and visiting our local city farm for gardening and cooking. We also provide mental health workshops and information sessions on topics like nutrition and healthy eating, and accessing healthcare.

We are looking for volunteers with energy and enthusiasm, who can bring fresh ideas and develop new links with local organisations and community groups. You will take a personal approach to working with people from around the world. You will play a key role in encouraging people to engage with the services and building a positive atmosphere within the group. You will also help with publicity, reporting, admin and expenses.

Reception & administration volunteers

In this vital role you will be the face of Praxis, welcoming visitors to the building, explaining our services, providing information to clients, and operating the switchboard. You will work closely with all our staff and volunteers, handling essential tasks including keeping an informative and attractive reception area, maintaining up-to-date sign-in and other records, sorting mail, and photocopying, faxing and scanning documents.

We’re looking for friendly and outgoing volunteers with good IT skills and spoken English. The ability to speak a community language would be an added bonus. You will need to commit one or two days a week (weekdays during office hours) for a minimum of six months.

Advice support volunteers

Help our team provide crucial advice to vulnerable migrants on immigration matters, housing and homelessness, and benefits. You will assess clients at our busy drop-in sessions to establish their support needs, help clients fill in forms, and advocate on behalf of clients by phone, in writing, or in person. We also need volunteers to provide dedicated casework support to our staff advisors.

All advice work is carried out under the supervision of experienced staff advisors and volunteers will be provided with basic training in all advice areas and in key issues like client confidentiality, professional conduct and case management before working directly with clients.

We’re looking for quick learners with a basic understanding of the UK benefits, housing, and immigration systems, the ability to speak and write effectively in English, and good IT skills. An ability to speak a community language is an advantage, but not essential. An interest in migrant issues and a commitment to basic human rights for all is essential. You will need to commit one or two days a week (weekdays during office hours) for a minimum of six months.

Groupwork and activities volunteers

Help us run our programme of workshops, group activities and events for vulnerable migrants. We have support and advocacy groups for young people, young women and mums, and women who have experienced trafficking and gender-based violence. We also need support for our ESOL classes, service user forums, and workshops on current issues of interest. You will help us plan and deliver our activities, gaining experience of group facilitation and working directly with vulnerable clients. You will also help with publicity, admin and expenses.

We need volunteers who are bright, motivated and confident, with good spoken and written English and good IT skills. Experience of facilitating, youth work, or community development would be a bonus but isn’t essential. You will need to be able to commit to one day a week.

Housing support volunteers

Help us support vulnerable families with no recourse to public funds who are living in our temporary accommodation project. You will provide practical help and a friendly face to people who have been in precarious situations and who now have the chance to have a home for a while. They will be new to the area so you will be helping them find their way around, accompanying them to appointments, and showing them how to access local libraries, toddlers’ groups, GPs and other local services.

We need people who are quick learners, reliable and trustworthy, with excellent people skills, able to speak and write effectively in English, and able to take responsibility for working independently and reporting closely to housing project staff. Good IT skills and the ability to speak a community language would be an advantage, but are not essential. An interest in migrant issues and a commitment to basic human rights for all is essential. You will ideally need to commit one day a week (weekdays during office hours) for a minimum of six months, but we will also consider applications from people who have less time to offer.

Host a refugee or migrant individual or family in your home

Do you have a spare room or space to offer, even temporarily? We are part of the London Hosting Network, which tries to find hosts for refugee and migrant individuals without recourse to public funds who would otherwise be destitute and homeless. If you think this is something you might be interested in, please take a look at our hosting page.